Kohli completes a unique set of centuries

Preview: After losing the three-Test rubber 1-2, India will be eager to bounce back when they face South Africa in the opener of the six-match One-day International (ODI) series on Thursday. The men-in-blue stayed on top since the beginning when they came to bat, keeping the required run-rate well under control.

When Kohli was dismissed, he had 112 runs against his name. Kohli supported by Ajinkya Rahane scored 112, while Rahane scored a courageous 79.

South Africa scored 269/8, which India reeled in with six wickets standing and 5.3 overs remaining.

But amid all the celebration, there was one run out in the 13th over of India's chase that put Shikhar Dhawan innings to a premature end. This was Kohli's first ODI ton in South Africa and his 20th in chases.

The second match of the ODI series takes place on Sunday, with a three-game T20 series beginning on February 18.

India trail South Africa by just one rating point in the ODI rankings so can go to No 1 if they win the series.

For India, Yadav took 3/34 and Chahal returned 2/45 as the duo excelled in their first proper overseas outing, underlining the team management's faith in leg-spin since July a year ago. The mainstay was Faf du Plessis as he steered his side to a total by scoring a magnificent hundred.

None of the other batsmen could score a 50 in the entire innings.

Kuldeep was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Chahal took two. The duo added a record 189 runs for the third wicket before being separated in the 43rd over when Rahane, aiming to finish the game early, ended up being caught at long-on.

India have lost the Test series 1-2 and the ODI series is an opportunity for them to announce a comeback.

Chris Morris contributed 37 runs with bat lower down the order. After this De-cock starts an attack on Indian Bowlers, by hitting boundaries over Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav.

South Africa's batting will be all the poorer without Du Plessis, who scored two half-centuries in the test series and made an excellent 120 on Thursday. Pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, who took a wicket apiece, bowled their hearts out but did not get much assistance from the pitch.